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. APPIC.

Gun-Carriage.

Patented Sept. 2'2, 1863.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3- WAPPIGH.

Gun-Carriage. N0. 4&067. Patented Sept. 22,1863.

Srafrns MAXlMlLlAlfl Warren, or

EMPHUVEWHENT 5N shonnivrsn'ro, onnrronurn.

PEATENG @RDNMMCEL Specification forming part of Letters Patent. No. ill lbmdtf, dated; September 22, 1863.

To all whom it may concern."

of Sacramento city, in the county of Sacrarnento and state of 'Ualifornia, have invented a new and useful lsopronenrent' in Gun-Carriages, whereby the size of theport-holes ofwarvessels, easeznates; as, "may be reduced; and

i. do hereby declare that the following is a full,

clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,-

znalring a part of this specifieation,inwhich- Figure 1, Shcetl, i sa side elevatiouof 'my invention, showing a gun ranged at an angle of sixteen degrees vertical elevation; ,Fig. 2, Sheet '2, is a plan of Fig 1, representing the gun ranged at zer'o, horizontal-and vertical. Fig. 3, Sheet 3, is a front-view of Fig. 2 with the lateral adj usting gscrew detached from the chassis. Fig. 4., Sheet 3, is a horizontal section taken through the guncarriage, showing the compressor, and also the means for throwing the carriage oft and on its wheels.- Fig.

5, Sheet 3, is an elevation in detail-of the parts shown in Fig. 43. Fig. 6, Sheet 3, is an elevation of the compressor, seen by cutting through the lower'portion of the gun-carriage and the bed upon which it rests. Fig. 7, Sheet 3, is a longitudinal section taken vertically through the lower part of thegun-carriage, showing in a side view the parts represented in Figs. 4,6, and 6.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

This invention, which forms the subject of my present application, has for its object the more perfect mounting, strengthening, and perfection of the principle of elevating or do pressing guns by their trunnions which was secured to me by Letters Patent bearing date 10th day of-March, 1863, wherein I used as one means-for carrying out that-principle an expanding and contracting gun-carriage in conjunction with adjustingscrews. I now employ as another mode of elevating guns by their trunnions a new and more substantial carriage. I also have efiected a combination of a compressor with a gun-carriage; likewise a means for throwing the carriage off and on its wheels has been applied, all of which will be hereinafter described.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use, my invention I will proceed to desense its construction and operation. 1

I the accompanying drawingsA represents theun, B B the trunnions thereof, and O O the checks of the gun-carriage, which latter are mounted upon the rails of the chassis d, as shown'inl igs. 1 and 30f thed'rawings. The gun-carriage consists-of twoupright cheeks, G O, which are made very strong and substantial, so, as to withstand the shocks and concussions incident to a long and continued contest. These checks are first formed of which are secured and braced by knee-braces,

portion of the covering is removed. Then strong iron plates, which materially add to the strength and'rigidity of the structure. The shape of these checks 6 O issuch as to greatest possible lightness. When thus formed andput together, the checks are braced perpendicularly to the horizontal surface of the chassis cl by means of suitableeross-braces a and a bracing-plate j, which latter extends across the front part of shown in Fig. 3, its upper edge being fle'uruaf. out to allow the gun A. to be broughtdowii to its lowest angle of vertical elevation, as shown in Fig. 1. The upper ends of thecheeks O O are connected together by the tranverse bridgebrace 0, (shown in. Figs. 2 and 3,) thus bracing the carriage above the gun as well as below it.

In the construction of the interior skeleton work of each cheek ca long slotis formed, ex: tending down through the center a. considerable distance. These slots are of suflicient length to allow the gun to be elevated or depressed by its trunnions to the greatest desirable extent, 'and within the slots thus formed in the checks the trunnion-boxes C G slide up and down, the trunnions B B having their bear ings in said boxes, fully described. 7 I The gun-carriage thus constructed is mounted on the longitudinal parallel rails of the chassis cl, as above described, which rails are in cross-section of the form of a-double T} or they may be made plain on their outside with the flanges extending inward considerably, in order to obtain a strong grip of the compressing 'aws,' as will be hereinafter described: This chassis d is square at its rear end; but-its forward end lapers, off toa centralpoint at an skeleton frames,

as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, wherein a each skeleton has bolted on each side of itv give a considerable base and strength with the the gun-carriage, as

as will be hereinafter more the port-hole \V.

. acme? referred to. .nBy meBJIS/Qf "this adj usting de;

vice all'the lateral movement in a right line which is'neccssary can be conveniently given to the chassis to bring the forward part of the chassis in a direct line with the degree of the horizontal training of the gun and the center of the port.

To the staple K, which is bolted to the ship s side M, I apply the graduated scale for determining the degree of horizontal training of the gun, as shown in Fig. 2, and in lines radiating from the horizontal axis of motion of the gun I project the degrees upon the deck of the vessel, as indicated in Fig. 2, which shows these degrees ranging on each side of the central line or zero, and numbered accordingly. The in-- den-pointer which is afiixed to the center of the rear end of the chassis, will point to these degree-signs and indicate the position of the,

gun horizontally with great precision.

The boxes 0 G", in which the trunnions B B' of the gun have their bearings, are raised or depressed by means of the vertical screws S S, arranged on the outside of the cheek-plates G C. These screws'are stepped in fixed brackets a a on the carriage, and they pass up through the projecting lugs a 'v of the bowed under brace U, and also through the proj ecting'plates a 'a at the top of the carriage, receiving on their upper ends the bevel spur-wheels c c. The teeth of these spur-wheels c c engage with corresponding. spurs, c c, which are keyed on the horizontal transverse shaft E, which extends across the upper end of the carriage, directly under the bridge-brace O, as shown in Fig. 3. This latter shaft 1*] may have hand-wheels, cranks, or ratchet-and-pawl arms R applied to its projecting ends, for the purpose of turning it, and thereby communicating motion to both screws S S simultaneously; or any other suitable means may be applied to this shaft E which will be convenient and easily operated. Bymeaus of this arrangement ]1 am enabled to raise orlto depress the gun Abodily by its trunnions B l), and in this way obtain any desired position in which to range or sight the gun, and to bring it to bear upon an object through Another screw is used in rear of the gun. This is the breech-screw m, which is tapped through the nut m, that has its pivot-bearings in projections a a,which are set a little on one side of the longitudinal axis oi the gun, in order to allow the sight to be taken directly over the axis of the gun in the most advantageous manner. This breechscrew H is stepped 1n the block 1., which is affixed to the plate X, that is hinged to the rear end of the carriage at its base, asshown in Fig. 1, which plate is provided with recessed elevations o 0, to receive the feet ofa removable triangular step-bearing, H, (shown in Fi 2,) which is to be'used when the breech of the gun is so much'elevated that the breech-screw m will not rest on the block t. This obviates the necessity of employing a very long breechscrew, which would be unhandy and otherwise objectionable.

On one or both sides, outsideof the cheekplates 0C, a graduated scale'is" marked, rang ing from zero, the horizontal line, and indicating six degrees vertical depression, and sixteen degrees elevation. This scale is read oft by means of a mark which is made on the trunnioirboxes, running at thegero-mark through the center of the trunnions; and by means of such a scale the desired vertical depression and elevation of the gun can be obtained with great accuracy.

To obtain the vertical range or hearing of the gun, I have applied a rope or chain to the breech of the gun,-as shown in Fig. 1. This rope or chain 6 should be graduated into degree-marks, which may be indicated on it by means of knots, holes, indentations, or in any other suitable manner. This rope or chain, as the case may be, is now attached at one end to an eye, a, and passed up through an eye, a, projecting from the nut m, as shown in Fig. 1. Whatever mark is brought to register with this latter eye on the gun will now indicate correctly the vertical range or degree 6f inclination of the gun. The ordinary degreescale may be used in connection with this scale. Thus it will be seen that I am enabled to ob tain the same results, as in my gun-carriage already patented, and at the same time obtain greater strength and rigidity.

The forward truck-wheels,p p, are fastened to a transverse axle, 1, which has also keyed to it between the checks 0 C a large spurwheel, f, and two loose collars, g g, on this axle act as friction-rollers for the cams s s to act upon. This shaft or axle 1 passes through oblong vertical slots in the checks 0 O, for the purpose of allowing the carriage to be mounted upon its'whcels or brought down upon the rails of the chassis d.

Above the axle l is a transverse shaft, q, carrying two cams, s s, the peripheries of which bear upon friction-rollers g, and on one side of this axle is another shaft, r, carrying a pinion spur-wheel, j", which engages with the large spur-wheel f. The ends of the shaft q project out from each side of the checks of the carriage to receive a ratchet, by means of which. the cam-shaft can .be turned so as to bring the cams to bear upon their friction-rollers g g, and thus to raise the carriage upon its wheels. By means of this arrangement it will be seen that I can obtain great power, and am enabled to mount the carriage upon its wheels at pleasure. The peculiarly-shaped cams s s (shown in Fig. 7) which I use enable me to gradually 7 tion of the carriage upon to increase similar nut o fixed for keeping the raise the gun-carriage upon its wheels, while with the eccentrics which have been used for this purpose the power is more sudden, and requires the application of a greater force to perform the samework. 4 This raisingand lowering arrangement may be applied tothe rear. truckwvheels, as well as to the forward wheels. On one side of the forward axle is a large spur-wheel, f, for the purpose of running the gun out when it is raised upon its truck-wheels. This spurwvheel f engages with the pinionspur as above described. In rear of this arrangement I have applied to the carriage a compressor for increasing the bearing or fricthe surfaces of the rails of the chassis. This compress consists of two shafts, Y Z, one arranged above the other, and the upper one, Y, passing through in a more the checks of the carriage and projecting a suitable distance therefrom to receive ratchets or other devices by which to turn the shaft either to the right or to the left to release or the compression. This latter shaft has a screw formed on it near one end, which passes through a nut, 12. The opposite end of this shaft Y passes loosely through a between two collars on i this shaft, and to each nutthe long arm of the rectangular compressing-jaws F Fare pivoted.

These jaws are again pivoted to the ends of the lower shaft or bar, Z, and their lower ends 1 curve under the inner flanges of the chassis- I rails and are recessed into compressing plates .G G, (shown in Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7,) which are interposed between the compressing-jaws F F and the flanges of the rails. These plates G G may be made quite long, and their ends rurned up at right angles and passed through straps which are bolted to the inside surfaces of the checks 0 C, so that guides are formed plates G G parallel with the rail-flanges against which they press. It will be seen from this description of my improved compress that by turning the screwshaft V in the proper direction the compressing-jaws F F will act upon the plates G G, and exert a leverage-pressure upward, so as to draw the gun-carriage down vertically upon the surfaces of the rails of the chassis. In this way I obtaina more direct action and am enabled to increase or to diminishthe friction positive and certain manner than with the means which have hitherto been en1- played for this purpose.

The transverse shaft E, carrying the bevel spur-wheels c 0, may be applied at the bottom of the carriage and made to operate uponthe vertical 'sei'ews equally as well as when arranged above the gun in a manner substantially as I-have represented and described in my patent aforesaid.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isj 1. Elevating and depressing guns by their trunnions by means substantially as and for the purposestdes'cribed.-

Providing a gun-carriage which is constructed of cheeks O G with lateral braces arranged above and below a gun which oscillates on and is elevated and depressed by its trunnions, substantially as described.

3. So constructingagun-carriageand mounting 'a gun (which swings on its trunnions) therein that while the gun can be raised or depressed and the carriage remain stationary the trunnions will have a rigid audfirm sup port, substantially as described.

4. The application of compressingjaws F F to a guncarriage'in such manner that the will operate simultane usly upon thelower surfaces of the flanges o the chassis and press upward or in direct opposition to the gravity of the carriage, substantially as described.

5. Adapting the slow-cams s s to, operate in conjunction with the loose collars g on the axle P, for the purpose of throwing the gun carriage upon its truek'wheels, substantially as described. 

